Restoration
Restoration
The Restoration domain tests the sequence and judgment behind stripping, sealing, finishing, burnishing, and deep cleaning. The exam wants you to protect the substrate, restore appearance, and leave a surface that is safe and maintainable.
Core rules
- Strip only when the finish is worn through, contaminated, or incompatible; otherwise scrub and recoat.
- Follow the label dilution and dwell time for stripper, then agitate, wet-vac, and rinse to neutral pH.
- The floor must be dry and clean before sealer or finish. Moisture trapped under finish causes haze, blistering, and poor adhesion.
- Apply thin, even coats. Multiple thin coats outperform one heavy coat. Respect the recoat window; if it is missed, clean and abrade before recoating.
- Burnish only after the finish has cured, typically 24 hours, and use the pad recommended for the finish.
Worked example
A 3,000 sq ft VCT floor needs four coats of finish at 2,000 sq ft per gallon per coat. Finish needed = 3,000 ÷ 2,000 = 1.5 gal per coat; × 4 coats = 6 gal. Add 10% waste: 6 × 1.10 = 6.6 gal, so buy 7 gallons. If the recoat window is 8 hours and the job pauses overnight, the next coat requires cleaning and a light abrade, not a direct recoat.
Traps that cost marks
- Stripping with too-hot solution and warping VCT.
- Skipping the rinse and leaving alkaline residue.
- Applying finish over a damp floor or over old finish without cleaning.
- Recoating after the window without preparation.
- Burnishing too soon and gumming the pad.